LIBERAL THINKING ON REHABILITATION - A WORKABLE SOLUTION TO CRIME

• NCJ Number: 54708
• Journal: Social Problems Volume: 25 Issue: 5 Dated: (JUNE 1978) Pages: 556-563
• Author(s): M A MORASH; E A ANDERSON
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 8 pages
• Corporate Author: Soc for the Study of Social Problems
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: EARLIER VERSION OF THIS PAPER PRESENTED AT THE ANNUAL MEETING OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF CRIMINOLOGY ON NOVEMBER 5, 1976 IN TUCSON, ARIZONA

Annotation

LIBERAL IDEAS ABOUT THE ROLE OF WORK AS A REHABILITATIVE MEASURE ARE EXAMINED AS THEY INFLUENCE CORRECTIONAL PROGRAMS AND POLICIES, AND RELATIONS BETWEEN CRIMINALITY AND UNEMPLOYMENT ARE ANALYZED.

Abstract

LIBERAL IDEOLOGY REFERS TO A SET OF GENERAL AND ABSTRACT BELIEFS OR ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT THE CORRECT STATE OF THINGS, PARTICULARLY WITH REGARD TO MORAL ORDER AND POLITICAL ARRANGEMENTS. ONE RESEARCHER IDENTIFIES MAJOR ASSUMPTIONS OF LIBERAL CRIMINOLOGY AS LEGALISM, REFORMISM AS A MEANS OF REHABILITATING OFFENDERS AND AMELIORATING SOCIAL PROBLEMS, EMPHASIS ON PRAGMATISM AND SOCIAL BEHAVIORISM, AND CYNICISM AND A LACK OF PASSI0N. INVOLVING OFFENDERS IN UNREMUNERATIVE WORK AND TRYING TO MAKE THEM FIT FOR EMPLOYMENT PERSIST IN IDEAS, PROGRAMS, AND POLICIES OF LIBERALS. LIBERAL PROGRAMS REFLECT AN INCREASING ATTRIBUTION OF IMPORTANCE TO WORK AS A REHABILITATIVE TOOL. A MAJOR CHARACTERISTIC OF LIBERALS IS THEIR ENTHUSIASM FOR RELATING THEORY TO PRACTICE, AND THIS THEORY PROVIDES A RATIONALE FOR EQUATING WORK WITH REHABILITATION. LIBERAL THEORY IS CATEGORIZED AS ANOMIE, SOCIAL CONTROL, AND LEARNING MODES OF THOUGHT. SEVERAL STUDIES HAVE BEEN BASED ON THE ASSUMPTION THAT WORK-ORIENTED CORRECTIONAL PROGRAMS REDUCE RECIDIVISM. THESE STUDIES ARE CRITICIZED FOR PERPETUATING THE BELIEF THAT UNEMPLOYMENT AND RECIDIVISM ARE RELATED. AN ALTERNATE VIEW IS THAT PROGRAMS SHOULD AVOID A SINGULAR FOCUS ON CHANGING OFFENDERS AND SHOULD, INSTEAD, PROVIDE INCENTIVES FOR INSTITUTIONAL CHANGE AND FOR CHANGES IN THE JOB MARKET STRUCTURE. CORRECTIONAL ORGANIZATIONS AND SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS IN GENERAL KEEP OFFENDERS OUT OF THE LABOR FORCE, SUPPORT LABOR AND INDUSTRY INTERESTS, AND MAINTAIN EXISTING CLASS ARRANGEMENTS. THE WORK ISSUE, THEREFORE, IS PERTINENT TO THE ANALYSIS OF CORRECTIONAL PROGRAMS, NOT BECAUSE OFFENDERS ARE UNFIT OR UNWILLING TO WORK BUT BECAUSE WORK HAS BEEN USED TO EXPLOIT OFFENDERS AND WORK IS LIMITED TO SITUATIONS THAT DO NOT CHALLENGE THE ECONOMIC STRUCTURE. REFERENCES ARE CITED. (DEP)